Genesis 41:56,57

Genesis 41:56,57 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands. When the famine began to grow in Egypt, other countries nearby felt the pinch as well. Jacob and his sons were shepherds and depended upon rain to make the grass grow for their sheep to eat. As the famine continued, Jacob’s sheep dwindled and things became desperate. One of them heard that there was food in Egypt, so Jacob sent his sons to buy some grain so that they could at least have a little bread to eat. When the ten brothers arrived in Egypt, they didn’t recognize Joseph. Why would they? They assumed that he was dead and long gone. But Joseph recognized them. But he spoke through an interpreter and kept up his disguise. Joseph spoke roughly to them and accused them of being spies. They assured this stern Egyptian ruler that they were humble shepherds. They explained that their younger brother was gone and that the baby boy was at home with their father. Joseph said that if they were telling the truth, they should bring this youngest boy back as proof. He kept Simeon as a ransom. He waved his hand and sent them away. But secretly, he told his men to put their money back into their sacks of grain that they had just bought. When they stopped for the night after leaving Egypt, they discovered their money that they had paid for the grain was there in their sacks of grain. They became nervous. They thought that God was punishing them for what they had done to poor little Joseph. But poor little Joseph was secretly snickering at them. Were they repentant for what they had done to him, Joseph thought to himself. What were they going to do? But then, Joseph remembered his dreams. He remembered how that God had told him in his dreams that his brothers would bow down to him in reverence. Had that not happened that very day! Joseph was glad to see his brothers, but he was going to make them squirm just a little bit longer. And God still had a lesson to teach them.

Genesis 41:39-42

Genesis 41:39-42 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; Joseph had a big job before him. But he had two advantages: he knew what was going to happen for the next 14 years, and he knew the God of the Universe Who was going to make all of it happen. So Joseph went to work. For the next seven years, all of the farmers in Egypt had bumper crops. They sold their surplus food to Joseph, who bought it cheap. There was plenty of food, you know. But at the end of the seven years of plenty, and Joseph buying and buying, came the famine. After a while the Egyptians ran out of food. So Joseph sold them food out of Pharaoh’s storehouses. But soon they ran out of money. So Joseph bought their lands and sold them more food. But soon, they ran out of land. So they sold themselves into slavery to Joseph, and he gave them more food. At the end of the seven years of famine, Pharaoh and Joseph had all of the money in Egypt, they had all of the land in Egypt, and they owned everyone as slaves in Egypt! Pharaoh had it all. And he owed all of it to the wisdom of Joseph! But God still had better plans for Joseph. Wow!

Genesis 41:29,.31,33

Genesis 41:29,31,33 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous. Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. Joseph explained Pharaoh’s dreams to him. There would be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. So there was no time to loose. Pharaoh should appoint a good and to oversee the collection of the food during the years of plenty so that during the years of famine, there would be food already saved up. That sounded like a reasonable plan to Pharaoh. But who could he get? Who would be wise and knowledgeable and in touch with the God of heaven to get this huge job done? Well, the answer was standing there, right in front of Pharaoh. Joseph was the obvious man for the job. So Pharaoh promoted Joseph to be the second in command of all of Egypt – just right under Pharaoh himself. Was God in control of Joseph’s life or what! One moment Joseph was in prison and the next he was running the whole country of Egypt! Amazing! God knows exactly what to do. And God knows when to do it. If we trust God with our lives, God will do amazing things with us. He is a mighty God!

Genesis 41:15,16

Genesis 41:15,16 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace. Pharaoh woke up one morning all frustrated. He had dreamed two dreams and didn’t know what the dreams meant. Suddenly, the butler remembered Joseph. He told Pharaoh that there was a man in prison who could interpret dreams. So Pharaoh commanded to bring Joseph out of prison and stand before him. He asked Joseph if he could interpret dreams. Joseph said that he couldn’t, but God could. This intrigued Pharaoh. He was interested in this God Who could give dreams and then give Joseph the interpretations of those dreams. God had been preparing Joseph his whole life for just this moment – the moment that he could be used by God. And he was ready. He was ready to interpret the dreams and he was ready to serve God in Pharaoh’s court. Are you like Joseph? Are you ready to serve God? In order to serve God, you must be prepared. Study God’s Word and you will be ready to serve God when the opportunity comes.

Genesis 40:1-4

Genesis 40:1-4 And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound. And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward. Pharaoh’s butler and his baker got into trouble and were cast into prison, where Joseph had been put in charge. They both had dreams and didn’t know what they meant. God gave Joseph the wisdom to interpret the dreams. The Butler had dreamed that there were clusters of grapes on a vine and he gathered them and squeezed them into a cup and gave the grape juice to Pharaoh. The baker dreamed that he had a whole assortment of breads in three baskets on his head and the birds came and ate out of the top basket. Both men were puzzled, but Joseph could interpret their dreams. The baker’s dream was bad news. In three days, he would be found guilty of his accusation and be executed. But the butler’s dream was good news for him. He would be restored to his position as Pharaoh’s right-hand man. And both dreams came true just as Joseph had said. But when the butler went back to his job before Pharaoh, he forgot all about Joseph in prison. He didn’t think about Joseph until the Pharaoh himself had a curious dream. Then he remembered the man in prison who could interpret dreams. God had Joseph ready to move on up.

Genesis 39:19-21

Genesis 39:19-21 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled. And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. Potiphar was away from home on business when his wife tried to get Joseph to commit wickedness with her. When joseph refused, she made up a story about him and got him into trouble with his boss, Potiphar. Potiphar fired Joseph and put him into prison. But God was with Joseph in prison. And just like God had blessed Joseph at Potiphar’s house, God blessed Joseph in prison. The prison keeper realized that he could trust Joseph, and gave him freedom in the prison. Joseph was honest and was soon running the prison for the keeper. God was with Joseph and continued to bless him.